Kerrin McEvoy acknowledges the applause as he returns to scale on Exhilarates. Photo: Dan Peled

Horses

Magic Millions: Godolphin wins 2YO Classic

by Tom Boswell

12th Jan 2019 5:22 PM
premium_icon
Subscriber only

BJORN Baker says he doesn't have to sell his house after winning the Magic Millions Cup.

There were hugs, slaps and leaps when Redouble won Saturday's 1400m race, the second $1 million race win for Baker, who won the Snippets with Egyptian Symbol earlier in the day.

It came five years after he won the 2YO Classic with Unencumbered.

"It's been a while since we have celebrated like that," Baker said.

"It's a big week and I've spent a lot of money (at the sales). My wife (Andrea) owns a lot of Redouble. We don't have to sell the house now.

Redouble arrived at Baker's Sydney stable midway through 2017 after featuring in multiple Group races and Baker said he was lucky to continue the journey with him.

"I'm so lucky I got a ready-made horse," Baker said

"It's been a good day. My old man (Murray Baker) won a Group 1 race in New Zealand today too.

"I phoned him up and said 'well done' but it was after Goodfella ran second in the (Magic Millions Trophy) and won more money ($185,000)."

CUMMINGS FEELING EXHILARATED

JAMES Cummings says Godolphin's Magic Millions 2YO Classic win shows they are part of Australian racing, not apart from it.

The Cummings-trained Exhilarates became the eighth favourite to win from the past 10 $2 million 2YO Classics at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday, storming home after being caught behind early.

"She got squeezed at the start but she is experienced and seasoned and we set out to do that with her," Cummings said of a horse who won the final lead-up race at Aquis Park a week ago.

"I think that stood her in really good stead. Two starts ago she got squeezed at the start at Wyong and I reckon she should have beaten (former Classic favourite) Unite And Conquer that day.

"Full credit to that horse he has ability but on this occasion she was just too seasoned and able to get it back together.

"(Jockey) Kerrin McEvoy kept his cool and she has got that speed at the top of the straight. I just knew she had the fitness to really kick into overdrive for us.

"We are not just over the moon, that really gets us passionate and gets us going.

"That is what it's about. We are not an aloof, cool operation who don't care, we are really invested here and I think one of the reasons we are back buying yearlings like Exhilarates is it shows that we are part of Australian racing, not apart from it."

Dubious, owned by Canungra based breeding and racing operation Aquis, finished second but won the top Racing Women's Bonus of $325,000 to go along with the $370,000 awarded to the runner-up.

Dubious was in front coming down the straight but couldn't hold on as Aquis just missed out on securing back-to-back 2YO Classic wins following their success with Sunlight in 2018.